By Thistle By Thimble

The Willowbee Tree

Part One: The Welcome Wall

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In which we are introduced to Dante and his single mother and learn that on the morning of his twelfth birthday, he experiences something incredible: he is struck by lightning. He is fine, but it begins a series of events that leads him to the neighborhood welcome wall where he receives a message that changes everything.

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4+

The Cooper and the Winter Oak

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An old cooper, or barrel maker, is given a large order for special barrels to be made before Christmas. The barrels are for a wine maker who wants them to be made with “winter white oak” wood.
Ordinarily this would not be a problem, but the rareness of the wood, coupled with a sudden and severe snow storm, forces the cooper to make a difficult choice: use his wood for barrels or burn his wood to keep himself warm.
Luckily, a quiet oak elf steps in, introducing the cooper to someone who can help.

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4+

Animal Daycamp

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Sylvia has been waiting a whole year to go to Animal Camp! She has heard all about it from her brother Martin. But when the time finally arrives, she is no longer quite sure. With Daddy’s encouragement, she decides that she will try camp “for a little while”. How amazed she is to meet ‘the bravest of forest animals’ and find that the very same bravery lives in her as well!

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3+

Aiden the Harbor Seal

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Aiden the Harbor Seal is curious about people. He has never seen a person, but he has heard stories about how they swim, how they climb, and how they ride in boats. When his mother takes him to see the remains of a very big and very old boat, he is amazed by what he learns about the world of people. And, at day's end, as he curls up with his mother, he is grateful for the enormous adventure.

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3+

Introduction Part One: Something's Going On

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Five-year-old Libby has just heard her least favorite word in all the world: errands. Her mother is planning for them to spend the morning together, out and about in the city. Libby furrows her brow and retreats to her room. But Dish inspires her with an exciting plan, involving a little secret detective work...

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7+

Episode One: Periwinkle's Parrot

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In this first episode of Windward Ho! book one, Periwinkle "Wink" Mackenzie excitedly waits to purchase the next book in her favorite series, The Windward Chronicles, early on the morning of its release. She never suspects that receiving the new book will be only the beginning of an unforeseen adventure.

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8+

Marta Bauer: Baker and Peacemaker

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When conflict comes to Dry Gables — when there are arguments, disagreements or blocks in the road to peace — the people of Dry Gables go one place: Marta Bauer's bakery. Somehow she always knows what to make, what to say and how to listen — and conflicts simply... dissolve. This is truly tested one day when a family of Chinese immigrants arrives in Dry Gables and the town is divided about next steps. Some want to honor the restrictive law of the land and others wish to welcome them with open arms. What to do? Get the baker.
This story is about how to listen, how to empathize, how to resolve conflict in a gentle way — and indeed, it speaks to the current confusion and conflict around how to best help the refugees of the world.

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3+

Brigit and the Cleaning Magic

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This story is a part of the "Gratitude" Collection - three stories centered on the theme of gratitude. Each explores the practice and experience of gratitude from a different angle.

In this story:

Somehow one cleaning woman named Brigit MacMichael is able to keep a series of very fine residences perfectly clean, tending each only once a month. How is this possible? Asher, a boy who lives in one of these homes, wishes to know, and learns first-hand about her secret: gratitude.

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4+

Super Raker

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Why is it that Daddy never seems to tire when he's raking? This is what Martin wonders out loud. Does he have superpowers? When Daddy answers the questions with more questions, Martin decides for himself that he really does have super strength, Sylvia really can fly, and Momma really can become invisible. Or can she?

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8+

Alaska: A Mountain to Conquer

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When 14-year-old Epheem Kalmakoff reaches the top of Marathon Mountain and peers out over the thick Alaska fog, he is suddenly reminded of three stories he heard when he was five years old: one from his Aleut grandmother, one from the Russian Orthodox priest of Analaska Island, and one from the teacher in the Methodist home for orphaned boys. These three stories fill him with a sense of history, identity, and finally mission – the mission to win the race.
Note: Though this is historical fiction and the characters have been developed to accommodate a story, their attributes and development may be useful as reference points and inspirations.

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6+

The Gentle Woodsman and the Final Fall Phoebe

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At an early age Tobias knew he would never marry. His love of the natural world gave him the sense of connection and dedication that he perceived marriage to be. Not until he is an old man and a late-to-migrate phoebe bird leads him to Dorothea, an expert forager who lives on the other side of the forest — only then does Tobias realize that there is a special kind of magic that comes from spending regular time with a particular friend.

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3+

True Gifts

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It is Mrs. Willowbee's birthday, and all she wants is for the family to attend the local harvest festival. She says "No gifts! No cake! I simply want to have fun at the Festival with you." Piper and Little Ty make their mother a gift anyway, but Clancy is confused: What is a birthday without birthday cake? And what can he make his mother so he has a gift to offer too? He gets a great idea, however, after The Willowbee Tree transports the children to the coast of Iceland, where they encounter dolphins and a clear-eyed gyrfalcon.

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